Netherlands Moves to Boost Military Drone Production

The Netherlands is accelerating military drone production by increasing cooperation between the defense sector, high-tech firms, and research institutions.

At a meeting in Oirschot, the Dutch Ministry of Defense discussed plans to scale up unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with industry and academic leaders. The event, called "Business Day Ecosystem UAS," marked the first step toward creating a national ecosystem to speed drone development.

The Dutch armed forces operate a limited number of UAS platforms, but officials say demand for advanced unmanned systems is rising. The government plans to invest in expanding production and developing new drone technologies.

Globally, other nations are also increasing focus on unmanned systems. In December 2024, Russia announced plans to form a new military branch for unmanned systems, following a directive from President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine established its Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) in September 2024 to manage drone operations across its military. Frontline units, including the Da Vinci Wolves Battalion and the Typhoon unit, have integrated drones and unmanned ground systems into combat.

The Dutch government is currently collaborating with local company DeltaQuad to supply intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drones to Ukraine for its defense against Russia. The €42.6 million ($46 million) agreement is part of the "Drone Action Plan," a broader initiative announced in October to invest €400 million ($432.5 million) in joint drone production between the Netherlands and Ukraine. The drones will provide unarmed aerial support for battlefield monitoring and data collection. They are designed to resist jamming, operate covertly, and continue functioning if command signals are temporarily lost.